40,301 Deer Harvested During Firearm Season
LINCOLN, Neb. – Preliminary reports reveal that 40,301 deer were harvested during the Nov. 10-18 firearm season, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. That is a decline of 27 percent from the 2011 record firearm season harvest of 55,400.
In addition to large numbers of deer lost to epizootic hemorrhagic disease, deer populations, permit sales and hunting success were impacted by a record drought and the elimination of Earn-A-Buck rules in some management units, where a doe had to be checked in before or at the same time as a buck.
The harvest total includes any type of hunting permit that was legal during the nine-day season.
Northeast Nebraska had the largest decline in harvest, while southwest had the least decline. Harvest by region, compared to 2011, was as follows:
Northeast – 8,040 deer (down 43 percent), Panhandle/Northwest – 5,505 deer (down 15 percent), Southeast – 10,870 deer (down 34 percent), Southwest – 15,886 deer (down 14 percent).
I’m surprised the numbers weren’t lower. Along the Platte and Missouri rivers in Cass county I estimate the deer numbers are down even more than what is being reported. This is the first time in 10 years I haven’t been able to get a deer during firearm season. I hunted the same ground where last year there were 10-15 deer to chose shoot. This year, I saw the same two does, but never had a shot.
DNT should seriously consider canceling the late season firearm in certain areas.
I agree, the season should be closed until deer have a chance to rebound. Take a lesson from South Dakota, close units if you know the deer are impacted by something, and refund hunters for permits. Hunters understand and are willing to help any way we can to perserve our hunting rights for the future.
The deer populations were already down along the Missouri River before this disaster because of the flood the year before that totally wiped out the habitat. So with those numbers down last year and these numbers down from that the deer herds are pretty much wiped out along the Missouri.
The numbers of deer the NGP reports dead from EHD are the number of actually “reported” dead. NOT the number of dead deer!!!!!
I Bow hunt the entire state and the first two days I took video of 20 dead deer. Informed NGP headquarters and was basically put off. The young lady there did not want to here it.after some persistant lobbying I was given a number in Lincoln where I talked to a biologist.
He was knowledgeable with what was happening to the deer only would not admit the problem was as big as it was. I walked for two days recording dead deer till I was ready to puke, they were easy to find close to Stagnated water. Approaching from down wind , The animals carcasses were easy to find.
All along the platte river from Omaha to Kearney “dead deer” the water in the platte was good but the deer had to cross over stagnate water to get to fresh water that where the midge or natt bit them and they all died too.
I asked the bio.wasnt he a bit concerned that you could drive from omaha to Kearney and not see even one road kill deer?
Every year there is a road kill every mile, but not this year ? I took two small does with my bow, there are deer but you have to know where to hunt. Bottom line is we are stupid red necks in their eyes.i believe NGP put out these misleading numbers and information because the MONEY !!!! They need the Revenue from you purchasing the licenses, And if they told you the truth it would been a loss of a lot of money for them. I would be happy to discuss this further in an open forum with anybody but only the truth.
This conversation took place with NGP and their Biologist in Lincoln in September my concern was That an investigation was needed because I deemed there were certain areas in the state that probably should not be hunted in 2012 so the deer would have a chance to rebound. As we know this is a peak time for people purchasing deer permits. And only after I was threatening to go to the media with my information did they give me the biologists phone number in Lincoln to talk to. i have no ax to grind these are simply the facts it is what it is.